The latest news and updates from the access economy, and how item renting and sharing became that little bit easier in May 2026.
Open call to France’s 2027 presidential candidates to back the access economy
More than 40 circular economy and sustainability actors — including Les Biens en Commun, PACCT for sustainability and Lokki — signed an open letter urging France’s 2027 presidential candidates to embrace the Functional and Cooperative Economy as a response to resource scarcity and the climate emergency. It’s a sign of access-based models moving onto the political agenda, and of a sector increasingly willing to organise and make its case at the national level.
Tiny Library adds a buy-back model to its rental offer
Baby equipment platform Tiny Library has launched a buy-back model alongside its rentals. Parents can now buy products like prams and co-sleepers with a guaranteed buy-back of up to 60% of the price, calculated upfront. The thinking: the platform found that for many parents, renting felt too uncertain, since it’s hard to know in advance how long you’ll need your baby equipment for — a hesitation that mirrors a wider barrier holding the sector back.
It raises an interesting question: could buy-back services, offered alongside rental and sharing, help accelerate the shift to more circular consumption?
City of Bergen launches its fourth sport sharing station
Bergen has opened its fourth sport sharing station, this time on the city’s new beach area — and it’s off to a flying start, with 280 rentals in its first month. Visitors can borrow sports equipment for free via the BUA app, with a fifth station set to launch in the city soon. The stations form part of the EU-funded Digital Kiosks project, and the early demand is a strong signal of how readily free, well-placed sharing fits into everyday public life.
Les Biens en Commun brings Stanley DIY tools to its sharing stations
Les Biens en Commun has struck a new partnership with DIY tool giant Stanley, whose products will now form the backbone of its DIY tool range. The tools are available to rent from the network’s sharing stations in Paris, Lyon and Strasbourg, with more locations to follow. It’s a strong example of an established brand, with high quality products, backing the access economy.
BoxUp expands across the UK and the Netherlands
BoxUp is spreading. In the UK, a partnership with Calne Town Council delivered a six-locker station at Calne Recreation Ground in Wiltshire, stocked with games like ring toss and KanJam that residents may not have tried before — a great way to broaden the community’s interests while getting people active. In the Netherlands, a resident-led calisthenics park in Drunen now shares sports materials with the whole community, a lovely example of how a citizen initiative can grow into something shared by all.
The Access Economy takes the stage in Maastricht
The Access Economy Alliance’s Nienke de Jong joined fellow young pioneers of the rental economy — Cédric Conrad, Lewis Weal and Adriano Destro — at the European Rental Association’s event in Maastricht. The panel looked at where the sector is heading, from sustainability and responsibility to what it takes to make rental truly accessible, with Nienke making the case for a future where renting and sharing are as easy and visible as buying.
Circularity Gap Report underscores the need to focus further up the R-strategy ladder
Circle Economy and Deloitte’s latest Circularity Gap Report lands a striking figure: in 2025, an estimated €25.4 trillion was lost through inefficiency, premature disposal and underused assets. It’s a strong financial case to expand focus beyond recycling towards models like rental and sharing — a reminder that the biggest gains often come not from how we dispose of things, but from how much more we use what we already have.
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